Over 30 Ukrainian Muslims’ religious and social organisations that had their signatures already listed under the Ukrainian Muslims Charter, signed Ukrainian Muslims Social Conception (UMSC) on 11 December 2017.
The Document’s presentation, discussion and, late, official signing took place at National Information Agency UkrInform.
Anwar Derkach who moderated the event, recalled how he repeatedly had heard criticism after the Ukrainian Muslims Charter had been signed; unjust criticism, up to accusations of withdrawal from Islam, and expressed his confidence that the new document that gathered the representatives of various Ukrainian Muslim Organisation was to specify the general rulings of the Charter.
The foreword of the Conception offers to take is as a fatwa, a theological ruling made my the most prominent Islamic scholars of Ukraine.
The gathering was opened with Holy Qur’an recitation; the honour of doing that was delegated to hafidh Murat Suleimanov, who recited in Arabic, and translator Mykhailo Yakubovych, who read the translations of the meanings of those verses to Ukrainian. Then, a word was given to Said Ismagilov (Mufti of the Religious Administration of Muslims of Ukraine) and Aider Rustamov (Mufti of Religious Administration of Muslims of Crimea; created on the territory controlled by Ukraine after the Crimean peninsula had been occupied by the Russian Federation). Experts and heads of Ukrainian Muslims’ religious communities, too, voiced their opinions and analysis of the text.
Professor Oleksandr Sahan, a theologist and a representative of the Institute of Philosophy of the National academy of Science of Ukraine, also voiced his opinion:
— In modern Ukraine, social activities of the local Muslims communities are clearly visible, as well as their striving to contribute to Ukraine’s revival and development. For that reason, producing the Ukrainian Muslims Social Concept and its popularisation among fellow citizens is a very important and positive step toward the further promotion of mutual understanding and spreading tolerance in the Ukrainian society, for it explains the modern traits of modern social life that are important for the Ukrainian Muslims.
— Noteworthy, the experts highly appreciated the Ukrainian Muslims Social Conception being signed today, as a truly Islamic and Ukrainian product defining a place for Muslims in modern Ukraine’s life, — said Professor Sahan.
— Based on Qur’an and Sunnah, as well as the unanimous decision of the theologists, and taking into consideration the modern Islamic Documents (such as Human Rights Declaration, Cairo Declaration of Human Rights in Islam, etc.), UMSC, as well as any fatwa, has the links to the place, the time and the circumstances. It’s rulings should be interpreted strictly according to the principles of the Muslim faith and their implementation in the defined social-historical reality of Ukraine, — said Mufti of RAMU “Umma” Said Ismagilov.
As noted by Sheikh Said, every religion has similar documents explaining the religious views on social problems.
— Last year, we’ve signed the Ukrainian Muslims Charter that declared basic principles, common for most of the Ukrainian Muslims organisations. After that, we decided to continue working on documents regulating Ukrainian Muslims’ life, particularly on the Ukrainian Muslims Social Conception. [...] I the UMSC, we articulated the Muslims’ attitudes towards the specific matters of education, science, healthcare, economy, ecology and business. There are rulings for every walk of life, — noted the Mufti.
Mufti of the RAMC Aider Rustemov, in his turn, stated that the mission of the Religious Administration he rules lies in “developing the Muslim community, interfaith and interconfessional dialogue, increasing the social activities and promoting better understanding of Islam”, and that signing the Ukrainian Muslims Social Conception by most of the Muslim religious administrations was another step towards implementing that mission.
— The wide range of topics covered by the document indicates the perfection of Islam that regulates absolutely every sphere of human life, including the religious teaching, Islamic law, morals, family, labour, science, economy (including banking), property, healthcare, environment and ecology, preaching ethics, interfaith dialogue. I’ve named only the main chapters, while the paragraphs stress the flexibility and well-balanced nature of Islam, especially when it comes to searching the “golden mean” and human rights. In my opinion, this is one of the main reason why there’s increased interest in Islam both in Ukraine and globally. [...] It would be great is representatives of every Religious Administration of Ukraine signed a unanimous, single, for I believe that would be an important indicator of progressing interfaith and interconfessional dialogue, increasing of social activities and better mutual understanding. For that, no doubt, would strengthen Ukraine, and Crimea is Ukraine, — said Aider Rustemov.
Every representative of a religious or social organisation delivered a short speech before signing the document, where they brought their organisation’s position and their own argument on why they’d decided to support the Conception; there also were proposals of further cooperation. Almost every speaker mentioned the need of reviving the Ukrainian Muslim Counsil for solving the urgent matters arising in front of the thele Ukrainian society and Muslims in particular.
State officials and scientist resent at the ceremony noted that such Muslim initiatives indicate their ability to unite and be role models for other religious organisations and churches.
Ukrainian Muslims Social Conception is an open document, i.e. any social or religious organisation can join at any time.
The list of developers of the UMSC includes RAMU “Umma”, RAMC, Association of Muslims of Ukraine, and representatives and imams of Muslim communities.
